Kibaki orders Mungiki crackdown

Nairobi, Kenya - President Kibaki has ordered a crackdown on the outlawed Mungiki sect that has been blamed for causing mayhem in some parts of the country.

He said the group, which has been linked with the killings of more than 10 people in his Othaya constituency in the past month, would be dealt with ruthlessly.

“We are aware of what is happening and we shall not allow it; the killings must stop. The state machinery will catch up with those behind the mayhem,” Mr Kibaki said at Othaya town after touring his constituency.

The Head of State urged the locals to assist security officers by volunteering information.

“I know you know what is happening and who is behind it. There is no justification on why the incidents are occurring here,” he told them.

On leadership wrangles, the president said: “Why do people fight over leadership and we all know that one cannot make himself a leader without the blessings of the public?”

Local leaders led by CDF chairman Karanja Mwangi and Othaya Development Association chairman Gichuki Mugambi accompanied the president on an inspection tour of various projects in the area.

Mr Obure said the government will rehabilitate about 112 kilometres of roads in the area while Prof Saitoti pledged to deploy more security officers in the area following complaints by locals over rising insecurity blamed on the members of the sect.

The leaders criticised a road contractor for the delaying rehabilitation of some roads.

Prof Saitoti announced that Nyeri South district had been split into two to form Nyeri Central (Tetu and Nyeri Town divisions) and Nyeri South (Othaya and Mukurwe-ini).

Mr Machage urged the president to order investigations into maize crisis in the country.

“The issue of maize must be investigated before it turns to be another Goldenberg scam,” Mr Machage said.

The president and other speakers steered clear of political matters and even failed to respond to Mr Warugongo’s quest for MPs to pay taxes like other Kenyans.